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driftingfocus

Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA
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Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 5:21 pm Post subject: Three Questions: |
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1. I am teaching camps in January for my public school district (I teach at multiple schools, so I am a minion of the education office rather than a particular school). Should I be getting paid for these? My contract says I have to teach them, but doesn't say either way about compensation. I work in rural Jeolla.
2. From Sat, Jan 24th onward, I have no camps, and my official vacation is the entire month of February. I have tried to convince my school to give me that last week of January as "out of country" time, but they are concerned about the insurance issue. I will not be working or sitting in the school that week, and they said I can travel around Korea, but that they just don't want me to leave the country because they're afraid I'll get into an accident. I tried to explain that if I stay here for that week, I'm going to be skiing and thus more likely to injure myself than if I were sitting at home in my friend's apartment back in the states, but they seemed skeptical.
Anyway - I honestly am considering just telling them that I will be "traveling in Korea" for that week, and but instead just go back to the states on the 24th. It's dishonest, but...I have put up with a lot at this job. My housing for my first few months that the Korea Times wanted to do a story on it (which I declined, to save the school face), I have had two very late paychecks (1+weeks late), incorrect paychecks, I recruited a new teacher for one of the other schools that my supervisor is in charge of... I don't mean to sound entitled, but I just feel like I deserve a little "flexibility" from them, and they're not giving it to me.
So, what are the risks of me taking off on the 24th? I mean, I don't have a cell phone, so they wouldn't be able to contact me anyway if I were actually in Korea at that time, so would there be any way for them to find out that I had actually gone back to the US? Does immigration notify them when you leave the country or anything like that?
3. I get one of my paychecks while I am on vacation, but several of the other foreigners here will still be in town. I would love to be able to have that money transferred to my account back in the states, while I'm gone. If I fill out the forms ahead of time, is it possible to have someone else hand in your remittance forms, or do you have to do it yourself? |
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krshearman74
Joined: 30 Oct 2008
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Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: Three Questions: |
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driftingfocus wrote: |
1.Should I be getting paid for these? My contract says I have to teach them, but doesn't say either way about compensation.? |
Well, yes, you should be getting paid for them, but whether or not you will get overtime pay is another question. Why don't you just ask them what the overtime rate is? That way they will know that you actually expect to get overtime for teaching at the camps.
driftingfocus wrote: |
2. From Sat, Jan 24th onward, I have no camps, and my official vacation is the entire month of February. I have tried to convince my school to give me that last week of January as "out of country" time, but they are concerned about the insurance issue...
So, what are the risks of me taking off on the 24th? I mean, I don't have a cell phone, so they wouldn't be able to contact me anyway if I were actually in Korea at that time, so would there be any way for them to find out that I had actually gone back to the US? Does immigration notify them when you leave the country or anything like that? |
You don't have to get the school's permission to leave the country - vacation time is exactly that, free time in which you have no obligations to your employer. You are not an indentured servant, if you want to go back home for a visit, then that's what you should do. Make sure you have a multiple entry visa so that your e-2 is not cancelled when you leave the country. If you want to appease your school about the "insurance issue" you could just buy a cheap travel insurance policy, but you are under no obligation to do so. Since they sponsor your visa, I do think it's possible for them to check with immigration (i don't think immigration would actually notify them) to see if you've left the country, but are they really going to go to that much trouble to check up on you? I doubt it. After all, it only sounds like you're going to be gone for a week or two.
driftingfocus wrote: |
3. I get one of my paychecks while I am on vacation, but several of the other foreigners here will still be in town. I would love to be able to have that money transferred to my account back in the states, while I'm gone. If I fill out the forms ahead of time, is it possible to have someone else hand in your remittance forms, or do you have to do it yourself? |
How about just getting yourself an international atm card? Most banks offer them - and then you can just withdraw the money at your own leisure, instead of trusting someone else to wire you the money (a dodgy proposition at best). |
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driftingfocus

Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA
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Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 6:43 pm Post subject: Re: Three Questions: |
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krshearman74 wrote: |
Well, yes, you should be getting paid for them, but whether or not you will get overtime pay is another question. Why don't you just ask them what the overtime rate is? That way they will know that you actually expect to get overtime for teaching at the camps.
You don't have to get the school's permission to leave the country - vacation time is exactly that, free time in which you have no obligations to your employer. You are not an indentured servant, if you want to go back home for a visit, then that's what you should do. Make sure you have a multiple entry visa so that your e-2 is not cancelled when you leave the country. If you want to appease your school about the "insurance issue" you could just buy a cheap travel insurance policy, but you are under no obligation to do so. Since they sponsor your visa, I do think it's possible for them to check with immigration (i don't think immigration would actually notify them) to see if you've left the country, but are they really going to go to that much trouble to check up on you? I doubt it. After all, it only sounds like you're going to be gone for a week or two.
How about just getting yourself an international atm card? Most banks offer them - and then you can just withdraw the money at your own leisure, instead of trusting someone else to wire you the money (a dodgy proposition at best). |
YEah, I mean, I know that I'm getting my normal salary, but I don't know if I'm supposed to be paid extra for the camps like the Korean teachers are.
I know I don't have to get my school's permission to leave the country, but the thing is that my official vacation is from Jan 31st-Feb. 28th. BUT, I have the week before that off as well, but they are telling me that I can only be in Korea during that week, not in the US. I know that *technically*, they can do that, but I guess what I'm asking is if there's some way that immigration would automatically inform my school or something like that, saying that I have left the country. Do you have any more info on the insurance thing - that might rest my principal's mind a bit.
Korean banks offer an international ATM card? I've never heard of that. Does Nyonghyup? I don't mind trusting someone to wire me the money - there are only 5 other foreigners here and they are all trustworthy people - hell, I know someone who is leaving 20mil with one of them to "safeguard" it until the won goes back down. So, I don't mind trusting someone else to do it, but I'm jut wondering about the logistics of whether or not it's possible. |
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krshearman74
Joined: 30 Oct 2008
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Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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I don't have any details about specific banks, but you just need to get an atm card that has a plus/cirrus/visa imprint (plus and visa will be better in the U.S.). If it has one of those, you're probably good to go. Just go to your bank and ask about it.
As far as travel insurance goes, just do a google search. I think lonely planet has one (world nomad or something like that). Anyway, usually policies are relatively cheap and cover medical expenses as well as personal property, etc....
If you're vacation starts on January 31st, why not just wait until the vacation officially starts? I don't think immigration actually notifies visa sponsors about employees leaving the country (I believe it would be up to the school to actually check with immigration), but regardless, they really can't stop you either way. |
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driftingfocus

Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA
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Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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krshearman74 wrote: |
I don't have any details about specific banks, but you just need to get an atm card that has a plus/cirrus/visa imprint (plus and visa will be better in the U.S.). If it has one of those, you're probably good to go. Just go to your bank and ask about it.
As far as travel insurance goes, just do a google search. I think lonely planet has one (world nomad or something like that). Anyway, usually policies are relatively cheap and cover medical expenses as well as personal property, etc....
If you're vacation starts on January 31st, why not just wait until the vacation officially starts? I don't think immigration actually notifies visa sponsors about employees leaving the country (I believe it would be up to the school to actually check with immigration), but regardless, they really can't stop you either way. |
Because if I can take that extra week, I can see my family back in the US, whereas if I only have the time in February, then I cannot. I see no reason to bounce around in my apartment for a week when I could be back in the US. |
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maingman
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Location: left Korea
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driftingfocus

Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 12:27 am Post subject: Re: n |
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maingman wrote: |
www.kbstar.com
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*confused* |
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ThingsComeAround

Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:06 am Post subject: |
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To my understanding, Korea does NOT allow foreigners to have international ATM / credit cards. Something to do with the E-2 visa prohibits banks from giving out those cards.
If you have a check card from the bank, you may notice that you have a "maestro" logo on it and there is no name. This means its only for use in Korea.
Is it possible to withdraw your funds from your regular account then leave the deposit from work for when you return? |
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driftingfocus

Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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ThingsComeAround wrote: |
To my understanding, Korea does NOT allow foreigners to have international ATM / credit cards. Something to do with the E-2 visa prohibits banks from giving out those cards.
If you have a check card from the bank, you may notice that you have a "maestro" logo on it and there is no name. This means its only for use in Korea.
Is it possible to withdraw your funds from your regular account then leave the deposit from work for when you return? |
I was going to withdraw them anyway, but in the event that they fire me, I want those funds to already be transferred. |
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krshearman74
Joined: 30 Oct 2008
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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ThingsComeAround wrote: |
To my understanding, Korea does NOT allow foreigners to have international ATM / credit cards. Something to do with the E-2 visa prohibits banks from giving out those cards.
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I actually possess an international bank card (I use IBK bank) and there's nothing about the E-2 visa that prohibits banks from giving out those cards.... |
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OculisOrbis

Joined: 17 Jul 2006
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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It is discriminatory bank policies that keep us from getting the card - there are no laws that say we can't have them and use them outside Korea. It was just the bank's 'policy' to deny foreigners the services. I recommend switching to KEB. You can get the card you need and they also have very convenient international remittance options and an English internet banking service. They usually have someone who understands what you're asking for, but......
If your trying to get service at KEB and they say no because your a foreigner, just call the woman at the number listed at the bottom of the article below, explain your issue with the bank, hand the phone the offending teller, and things will be sorted for you. She's great. I got my Global Debit Card and credit card because of her.
Improved Regulations on Overseas Travel Expenditures, Newly Introduced
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has been in cooperation with Ministry of Strategy and Finance since January of 2008, working to alleviate foreigners' inconveniences when using their Korean funds overseas through credit cards etc. Finally, we have found a more convenient system regarding the ability to access such funds overseas. These improved regulations entered into effect beginning on June 2nd, 2008.
[Newly Introduced Regulations (2008.6.2.)]
Foreigners can access their Korean funds overseas using credit cards and other types of cards up to $50,000 a year in addition to the amount of taxed income earned in Korea, so that foreigners may feel freer when traveling overseas.
※ For further information, please contact Seoul Global Center
(Kang eun-sung, ☎02-2075-4146, Korea Exchange Bank Credit Card desk). |
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Big Mac
Joined: 17 Sep 2005
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks OculisOrbis for the info about international bank cards at KEB.
I got my ATM card at KEB about a year and a half ago and was told then that I couldn't get an international card.
I just called the lady at the number you gave and she explained that the rules changed in June and she called my branch to explain the new rules to them. So now all I have to do is visit my branch to get a new card (which is easier said than done, actually because I now live far away from any KEB branch). |
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